Topics

More Coverage

Related Stories

You know a guy is big when Jarred Tinordi’s former sweater looks a little short on him.

Mike McCarron, the latest and much anticipated member of the London Knights, was introduced Friday. He stood at the podium wearing Tinordi’s No. 24. Tinordi was a big man but at 6-foot-5, 228 pounds or thereabouts, the Montreal Canadiens first-round draft pick looked as if the sweater could use another couple of inches added to it.

Coincidentally, Tinordi is also an American and a first-round pick of the Canadiens. Tinordi also picked the Knights over an American university.

If McCarron continues to follow Tinordi’s lead and turns out as good a player, the Knights have themselves a winner.

The official introduction ended a chase for the Knights that began two years ago when the Michigan native was drafted in the sixth round by the Belleville Bulls. McCarron didn’t report to the Bulls but instead opted to go to the United States national team development program. He also committed to Western Michigan Broncos.

Knights’ general manager Mark Hunter traded with the Bulls to get McCarron.

The Canadiens made him a first-round draft pick and then the question became whether he would fulfil his commitment or move to the Knights. The Canadiens signed him to a three-year entry level contract, the decision became obvious.

McCarron spent time talking to Tinordi before making a decision of where to play. First off, Tinordi eased McCarron’s mind about living conditions, saying the billets were “awesome.” Then he talked about how the OHL prepared a player for professional hockey.

“He said the 70 games really get you ready for the NHL,” McCarron said. “He said there’s no really difference of games from when he played in the NHL and here. He said that was a really easy transition. (Tinordi) said the off-ice was pretty good if you push yourself. He’s a pretty big guy, a good guy to follow. I took his word to heart. It definitely had an impact in my decision.”

McCarron also wanted to make sure his mother was satisfied with the schooling aspect of coming to London. Instead of being a Western Michigan Bronco, he’ll be a Western University Mustang.

Would he have chosen the Knights if he didn’t have that contract in his pocket?

“I haven’t really thought about that. I couldn’t say yes or no. I didn’t know,” he said. “I probably would have still come here because the Hunter’s move on so many players. It’s awesome to see all those players come in here and are now playing in the NHL. I want to be part of that.”

McCarron offers something the Knights lack. He’s a big man who can score and who can control play with his size. The Knights have a lot of skill but they also have a smallish lineup up front.

“It’s an ideal situation. It’s why the Montreal Canadiens drafted him in the first round,” said Knights head coach Dale Hunter. “He has a combination of skill and size. It’s hard to come by. We had some big (defencemen) but we didn’t have that big forward with size and with skill where you get to play in key situation.

“We’re looking forward to it. It just makes our team look bigger and adds skill also.”

McCarron admits to liking the physical and fighting aspect of the game although he doesn’t want fighting to “define” his game.

The sudden rise to prominence for McCarron is going to translate into big expectations on the ice. Hunter isn’t worried about McCarron’s adjustment considering the kind of the team the Knights will put on the ice.

“We’ve seen how guys like Tinordi came in, what he meant to our team and (McCarron) is going to mean the same thing,” Hunter said. “It’s not like we’re in a rebuilding year. He’s going to play with good players. He’s going to have experience. It’s our Memorial Cup year. If he had to do it by himself, it’s a tough league to do it but he’s going to play with good players and good things will happen.”

Mike McCarron puts on his jersey as London Knights general manager Mark Hunter hands him a hat at a press conference announcing his commitment to the junior hockey team at Budweiser Gardens in London on Friday July 12, 2013. The 6'5" 228 lb. forward, from Grosse Pointe, Michigan, was selected 25th overall in the first round of the 2013 NHL Entry Draft by the Montreal Canadiens.
CRAIG GLOVER The London Free Press / QMI AGENCY